Ballistic Pendulum Lab 1

Procedure: 
    Part 1: Momentum and Kinetic Energy after the collision

• Measuring the masses of two bodies.
• Measuring the distance from the tabletop to the center of mass of the pendulum before collision (h1) and after collision (h2)
• Fire the steel ball (mass m) into the hollow pendulum.
• After the collision the pendulum will be brought to rest at its highest point by a set of ratchet teeth mounted on the base of instrument. Then, measure the distance, h, that the pendulum was raised (h = h2 - h1). Repeat this step 5 times and record all data. 
• Add the masses of the two bodies, then calculate the initial velocity of the projectile using the conservation of energy and conservation of momentum equations.

    Part 2: Momentum and Kinetic Energy before the collision

• Measuring the distance from the launch point to the edge of the paper (x1) and from the edge of the paper to the center of the shot distribution. (d)
• Fire the projectile across the room.
• Place a piece of carbon paper (carbon side up) on the landing spot and tape a white sheet of paper on top of the carbon.
• The ball will leave a mark when it lands. Determine the range of the projectile by measuring the location of the marks (x = x1 + d). Repeat 5 times and record all data.

Hypothesis: As after the collision, the pendulum will raise to h height. Kinetic energy will transform to potential energy. Total energy is always conserved. The momentum also is conserved.

Materials: The pendulum, launcher, carbon paper, measuring tape